Automatic regulator



Patented July 3, 1945 "2,379,537; AUTOMATIC REGULATOR I,

oneness-u.MaeNeil, John Feni'more- Haines;

'l'homaslBernartlMartin, amt KennethL. Berni ingem'flayiongflhio, 'assignors to; General Mu tors Corporation, De

otDelaw are troit,. Mich, a corporation Application u ust n, 1942,se'ria1m, 456,234 l im -l '(Cl. 1'0, 163).f

This invention. relates to. controllable pitch propeller mechanism and, more particularly to 63111- 'l'ating devices therefor. f I

It is a principalobject to provide aself co11- tamed regulator unit capab'leof retaining a predeterminedani-ount'of fluid pressure medium. for

supplying actuating mechanismfin' fluid circuit the fixed sleeve will not cause undue wear of lthe bearings and/or result in leakage from thereservoir; v i v i A- still further object is to provide ameans for sealing a reservoir rotatable with an aircraft propeller, and formaintai'rring coneent'ricity of a re;- ta-table housing and a fixed extension into; the

same, whereby there will be'less wear of the rela tively-mov-ing parts;

' A, still further object is to provide a self con;-

tainccl regulator for a controllable pit-ch propeller, in which a reservoir is mounted 'on the hubto rotate therewith, about an 'inwardly-proj'ecting substantially concentric runway; fixed member for closing on" the reservoiras a substantiall'y sealed and self contained source of fluid pressure medium.

In controllable pit-01 propellers o-i'the class de scribed herein, orwhere a regulator mechanism is self contained and rotates with the propeller and has manual control mechanism; for adjusting engine housing.

which becomes a very awkward operation, there is also need for a wide latitude of mounting between the fixed part of the regulatorand the An aid toward that endis, in part provided by the engine manufacturerjin so far as he furnishes 'a pilot ring atj'the outside end. of thepropeller shaft casing. That pilot ring'is among other things, permanently aifixedto the casing 'and'defsigned' for locating the axis of shaft rotation, though its geometric center may in fact lee-out of exact coincidence with the axis of trait rotation. The pilot ring, or the member, providing it ma not be located in apl'an-e- 'exacuy erpen: clicular to the axisoi shaft rotation, on the other hand; the shaft itself maybe deflected or eccentric to the axis of rotation, or there maybe eccentriciity within the propeller'structure between the shaft and rotating regulator partsi' Iffeither con-idition obtains, great di ificulty is bad in rnounting any structure on thepmpeuer. shaft that is to retate accurately with respect to the propeller'shaft casing providing the pilot ring, or withrespect to a part extending from the pilot ring or casing. Thus while structure mounted on the shaft and intended t'orotate with the shaft will rotate as a whole about the shaftaxis of rotation there may in fact be non-coincidence between the axis ofrotatic m of the propeller and thegeometric center of the pilot ring on the'shaft casing, or between the axis of rotation of the propeller and the geometri'c'center "of the rotating parts carried; by

the shaft, or yet between'the geometric center theresponse offthe mechanism, there is need for a relatively stationary termed part of the regulater mechanism to be iournalledto the rotating part of the regulator for the'following reasons:

'45 to provide concentricrel'ation for'allowing the seals to work properly, to provide adefinite end wise location for operation of the governor, to-proride concentric relation forproper meshing of the pump driving gears; and ontheother hand, to avoid elaborate installation adjustments 'forjloeating the governor control with respect to the governor mechanism, and to simplify} the propeller installation by eliminating thenecessity forbolting a part of the propeller to" the engine other fixed parts.

oi'the rotatingparts carried bythe shaft andthe geometric center of the pil'ot ringon the shaft casing. I g I It is therefore a further ob ject-to divorce alT requirements of exact location, concentricity; and squareness as respects the propeller shaft with its mountin'gsi'n relation to a propeller mechanism and regulator mounted thereon and particularly in relationtothelatterl 'It is another object to provide a niountingibr a normally' fixed part of the regulator'mechanism so that the fixed' part bears a knownl'ocati'onand relation to the associated and relativelyrotatable parts of the regulator mechanism, through the said fixed:- part is susceptible oi mounting within a relatively-wide range of limits with respect to Another object is to provide a relatively rotat able mounting for the control means-of a regulator'which'bears a known: relation to the mech- I anism or mechanisms tobecontrolled.

7 Another object is to provide a relatively fixed I inner wall or tube for a rotating device Whose mounting is capable of providing a satisfactory fluid sealing arrangement.

Another object is to effect controlled movement of parts within a rotating assembly from an outside fixed point, though axes of rotation and geometric center are non-coincident.

A further object of the invention is toprovide an adapter assembly fixed with respect to a casing supporting a rotatable shaft and having a portion extending into a rotatable housing carried by the shaft where it closes off the housing to form a reservoir for a fluid pressure operating medium, there being provisions manually operable from without the reservoir for selectively actuating control units situated within the casmg.

An additional object of the invention is to pro-,

vide a reservoir rotatable about a tubular mem-,

ber projecting into the reservoir to close it off in fluid tight relation with transmission means in the form of screw-shafts for effecting axial motion of a control ring carried by the tubular member within the reservoir and adapted to be controlled from a point outside of the reservoir.

Yet another object is to provide transmission means by which mechanism mounted with a reservoir rotating about an axially disposed relatively fixed member, can be adjusted at will and from the outside of the reservoir while the reservoir is rotating. 6

Among other objects, some of which will be observed as the detailed description proceeds, it is an object to close off one wall of a rotating fluid chamber by means of a relatively fixed or non rotating part projecting into the chamber and having bearing engagement with the rotating part that is devoid of eccentricity so that rotation of the chamber will be concentric with respect to the nonrotating part despite the orbital move-:

ment of the fixed part with respect to propeller drive shaft.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:'

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a propeller mechanism embodying the instant invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a detail of the construction.

. Fig. 3 is a similar enlarged sectional view illustrating other features of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged transverse sectional view through the propeller control mechanism substantially as indicated by the line and arrows 4-4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a View in section, illustrating a modiflcation of the invention.

Referring particularly to the drawings 40 illustrates a part of the engine casing, forwardly from which projects an engine driven shaft I2 drivingly supporting a propeller having blades secured in sockets l4 provided by a hub having a rearward extension 16 driven through the agency of splines 18 and seated against a rear cone 20. Mounted on the hub for instance concentric with the hub sleeve IB there is a regulator housing comprising a plate 22 to which is affixed a cover member 24. Theplate 22 is annular in form such that its inner periphery 28 closely embraces the cylindrical portion IB of the sleeve where it is maintained by means of a sleeve nut 30 threaded onto the sleeve H3 at 32, the forward end of the sleeve nut 30 forcing the plate 22 against the radiating socket portions I4.

The cover member 24 telescopically engages over the rim 34 of the plate 22 where it is held in sealed relation by means of screw device 36. For closing'the inner boundary of the reservoir that is provided by the members 22 and 24, an adapter assembly is provided that makes use of a tubular extension 38 surrounding the sleeve nut 30 loosely and extending across the space between the plate 22 and the parallel wall 40 of the cover 24. The inner boundaries of both the members 22 and 48 are circumferentially, recessed to receive bearing members 42 and 44 respectively that are interposed between their respective supporting members and thetubular extension 38, thus completing the enclosure as a reservoir that may be charged with a predetermined amount of operating fluid. That is, an annular or ring like chamber is supported by the propeller hub, and surrounds the drive shaft and hub sleeve. It is provided by the plate member 22, the cover 24, the bearing member 42, 44 and the tubular extension 38. Within the reservoirso constituted, there is provided regulating and control mechanism that embraces a pump 46, a governor mechanism 48, and perhaps relief valves, breather valves and the like, each and all operating on or by reason of the fluid medium contained with the reservoir.

The tubular extension 38 forms part of an adapted assembly as has been stated, and also forms a support for adjusting and operating mechanism by which manual control is effected for the elements enclosed within the reservoir, and by which power is applied to the fluid circulating means 46. Directed toward support of'the adjusting mechanism the sleeve 38 is provided with circumferentially aligned flange portions 50 disposed to be adjacent the bearing member 42, and spaced axially thereof is provided a tooth flange 52. These flanges 56 and 52 provide stops for axial movement of a control ring 54 embracing the intervening portion of the sleeve 38. The inner periphery of-the control ring 54 is appropriately notched such that the ring may be telescopically passed over the flange portions 50 and thence it may be turned or rotated to bring about the relation existent in Fig. 3. In order to gain the full extent of possible movement between the stops 5D and 52 one end face of the control ring is arcuately notched as at 56 to receive the flange portions 56 at one extreme of movement. To keep the control ring 54 in proper alignment dowel pins 58 secured in a thickened flange 66 of the sleeve 38 and extend across the space between the stop flanges and engage bores 62 so that the control ring in moving axially of the sleeve 38 may be guided by the dowel 58 as it slides over it. In the outer periphery of the control ring 54 there-is a groove 64 adapted to receive a shoe member 66 of a slide block 68 movable upon guides Ill and carrying a fulcrum roller 12. The fulcrum roller 12 supports one end of a lever 14 biased by a spring I6 for movement of the governor valve forming a part of the mechanism 48. Movement of the control ring 54 thus carries the slider 68 along the guides 10 and in doing so either lengthens the moment arm of the lever 14 between the fulcrum 12 and the line of spring force 16 and in that way alters the effect of the control mechanism 4B.

As a means for moving the control ring 54 along the sleeve 38 and between the limits afforded by the stop flanges 50 and 52, a plurality of shafts 2,379,537 are provided that have threaded portions 82 received by complementary threaded portions ofthe ring 54. The shafts" are likewise received by enlarged bores 84 through the flange 52 and thickened portion 60 ofthe sleeve 38 but are of sufficiently greater diameter than the shaft 80 as to provide a substantial clearance whereby possible weave and gyration of the shafts may be permissible. I I

The screw shafts 80 have ajournal bearing 86 in a ring 88 aligned with and held in end toend engagement with the sleeve 38 by means of the dowels 58, the ring 88 having sockets'QII for that purpose. The ring 88 is counterbored at 9| about the shaft 80 and in line with thejournal bearing 86, for reception of a fluid seal .94 backed up by a washer 96 and a spring 98 seated against a ring I00. I

For operating thescrew shafts 80'there isprovided a pinion I02 on the end of eachshaft where it projects through the journal bearing 86. Mounted to slide circumferentially about the ring I 88 there is a ring gear I04 that meshes with the pinions I02, an arm I06 adapting the rin for either automatic or manualoperation as may be desired. Acting as a keeper and a thrust member for the ring and pinion there is a flanged ring I08 that provides a backing for screw devices IIB passing through the ring 108, the ring 88 and threading into the thickened portion 60 of the sleeve 38; When these parts are thus assembled and secured by the screw device 'I-IU the adapter assembly is complete, and the reservoir with hub wholly contained within the reservoir andahasan inlet t'w so that it: may withdraw medium from the reservoir"and deliverit to a pressure supply line lao which leads to control passagesof the governor mechanism 48 from which itis selectively delivered to one ormorc passages I32 but all of whichis unnecessary of description-there inasmuch" as it 'rorms'no part of this invention and i=s--elseWhere "described incompanion case's; It should however beobserved that rotation of the propeller carries with it the regulator'housing and causes the parts- 22 and :Zltand the associated bea1ir1gs 42i and. 44vto'rotate about the sleeve--38.

When the reservoir is conditioned for automatic control of theselected devices, it is partially filled with afluid medium. Under a condition of. restthis fluid medium would be likely to seep out from' between. the: innerperipheryoi the bearing members and: M and: the engaged portions of the sleeve 38. Though-- care in manufacturing may result in such close fit 'of those parts -as to preclude any substantial amount of leak age, such fits are undesirable. and cannot be rehad upon for that purpose.v Itwill: be recalled attached is readyfor mounting upon the engine shaft I2 as a single unit of assembly.

I In assembling the propeller with its regulator mechanism the hub sleeve I6 is passed over the shaft I2 with'the splines I8 in registry. As the assembly nears the seating position between the rear cone ZlI-and the rearward incline of the hub sleeve IS the adapter assembly is rotated with respect to the engine casing lfl'until anotchportion II2 of the ring I08 is in receptive relation with a lug II4 of a composition plate II'Bsecured against the cover plate II8 of the engine casing ID .by means of screw devices I20. Thence the propeller-hub and regulator assembly is forced into seating relation and the shaft nut applied to that underv a state'of rotation, the fluid medium partially filling the reservoir will inconsequence of centrifugal forces acting" upon "the mediurn be centrifuged to the perimetric wall 24' of the reservoir; leaving. a radial an i wardlyndispo'sedannular void or. air space: betweenthe inner surface of the medium and the sleeveS-R. At nfirmalifiq-lr' ing of the reservoir that" void or annular space might'extenci. from the: sleeve 38 'radially outward to near. the outer perimeter o1: the 'bearing-mem bers42and44, Therefore underthose-conditions I there would be no leakage between the bearing surfacesof the sleeve 38 and the members 421 and 44 during rotation. However; as I thea'ircrai't gains or loses altitude it is desirable that the air pressure within and without the reservoir be I equalizedso that upon. secession or rotation there retainthe parts in assembled relation. The cover 7 v plate II 8' supports a pilot ring IIi! whose outer diameter is supposed to be geometrically concentrio with the axis o'-o of shaft rotation. Under those conditions of assembly the adapter assem bly will be relatively fixed against rotation relative to the engine'casing in consequence of which the reservoir or rather the'hollsing members comprising it will rotate about the-sleeve portioii 38 and presumably concentric with the pilot ring H81 since. the propeller manufacturers dimension the hub and regulator with respect to the data given him' on the shaft and piloting plate by the party or division building those parts. The mannerof retaining the adapter assembly against rotation, but not firmly attaching it to the engine will not be loss of the fluid: medium by reason or a greater internal pressure at a time when the fluid medium mightc'o-ver running surfaces of the bearings. Thus, centrifugall-y operated valve,

means are provided association with the bearings- 42 and 44,. so that the housing forming a reservoir maybe substantially sealed against I-Iuid flow throughthe bearings while the apparatus is at rest, and such thatwhenv a" condition of rota- 7 tion is--accmnplished that will remove the fluid medium from contact with the sleeve 38, then-free fluid flow betweenthe interior and'exterior of the I casing will be accomplished. v

Therefore, in mounting the bearings 4'2 and 44 the respective-supporting members, that isthe plate 22- and cover 24 are circumferentially grooved'at- I34 and I36 respectively for-reception-v of the corresponding bearing" members. Aside from the difference inover-all'dimension the bearing members 42 and are substantially alike such'that a d'escriptionior one wilI su mce for the other. Thus,.'the bearing member 42 has its inner diameter I38- providing a bearing surface engaging'the outer" surface of the sleeve '38 while, its outer periphery closely fits against the eripheral wall of the groove: I34, an outwardly extending flange I40 being receptive of cap-screws I'4I threaded into the body or the plate 22;for

securingthe bearingin place.-- That'portion oi the bearing ring projecting axially into" the groove I34 is successively stopped at "I42, I and 148 while the ede e is chamtered at 134$ to provide 3 withl gearteeth I 22 thatmesh with the teetit I24. or a pump driving gear rzez. 'Ehe omp-40 1s an outward overhang. The stepping of thebearing member provides an annular recess I41, which may be called a valve chamber, and is substantially enclosed by a portion of the sleeve 38, the bearing member and the supporting plate for the reception of a centrifugally operated valve I58.

The details of the centrifugally operated valve I56 are shown in the enlarged views Figs. 2 and3, where a resilient ring I52 of rubber or rubber like material is bonded to a backing member I54 and disposed in the peripheral groove I34 or I36 to substantially fill the annular recess or valve chamber above referred to. The resilient ring preferably is of the contour illustrated and is molded in such form that its unstressed contour will be substantially as indicated in Fig. 2. Specifically the resilient ring I52 may be said to comprise a pair of concentric rings including an inner ring portion I56 and an outer ring portion I58 joined by an integrally connected web portion I66. The outermost ring portion I58 is chamfered at one edge I62 to mate with the chamfered edge I48 of the associated bearing members. The opposite end of the ring portion I58 and the connecting web I68 along with one end of the ring portion I56 in the normal unstressed condition of the pivot ring lie within a single plane. The backing member I54 comprises a rigid metal annulus extending from the outer periphery of the resilient ring inwardly for about two thirds of the radial dimension of the resilient ring such as to leave the inward portion I64 of the web where it is joined to the innermost ring I56 free for a certain amount of flexing. At the opposite end of the innermost ring I56 from that joined to the web I60 there is an outwardly extending circumferential flange I66 having its juncture I68 somewhat thickened so as to add an additional mass to the normally free end of the ring I56, and so as to form a wedge shape groove I10 between the flange I66 and the web I68. In the free or unstressed condition of the resilient ring the outward edge of the flange I66 may engage the step I44 of the bearing such as to pro- I vide a stop or abutment against outward distortion of the flexing portion of the valve member. Disposed within the groove I10 there is a garter spring I12 so stressed as to normally engage the proximate sides of the web I68 and flange I66 thereby causing the engaged members to spread substantially as indicated in Fig. 3. That spreadingwill cause the resilient member to flex and bend at the juncture of the web I68 and ring I56 somewhat as indicated in Fig. 3, and ill bring the edge I14 of the innerring into continuous embracing relation with the adjacent portion of the adapter assembly, Thus, normally under stress of the the garter spring I12, the inner ring portion will engage the cylindrical surface of the adapter assembly and prevent fluid flow between the adapter assembly and the resilient ring. In other words a seal is effected,

So that the innermost ring I56 may disengage the adapter assembly when a predetermined speed of rotation has been accomplished weight members consisting of steel balls I16 or the like are lodged within the confines of the garter spring I12 which respond to the speed of rotation to stretch the garter spring so that it may be moved outwardly ofthe groove I16. It may infact move outwardly so far as to enga e the 'step I46 of the bearing member which acts as a stop therefor. As the garterspring stretches and moves radially outward, centrifugal force acting upon the flange I66 of the resilient ring combined with the inherent resiliency of the ring between the edge of the backing member I54 and the attachment to the flange causes the edge portion I14 to disengage the adapter assembly so that fluid flow will be established between the members.

Communication is afforded between the valve chamber I41 and the interior of the reservoir by means of bores or drillways I18 extending from the bottom of the step I42 diagonally and radially outward of the center of rotation as most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, these drill-ways principally operating as drain passages between the valve chambers I41 and the reservoir. Disposed in the peripheral groove afforded by the step I42 of each bearing there may be lodged a fibrous ring I88 such as felt or the like which tends to arrest fluid flow outward through the passage I18 into the valve chamber I41.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the centrifugal valve mechanism has been omitted, and dependence placed on the maintained fit of bearing surfaces to prevent leakage of the pressure medium. The adapter sleeve 38 provides bearing surfaces I8I and I82 at the fore and aft ends respectively. A bearing ring I84 closely engages the bearing surface I8I and is secured to the plate 22 at its outer boundary by such devices as screws I86 threaded into a flange or web I88. The bearing surface I82 is disposed around the thickened portion 80 of the adapter sleeve and extends between the toothed flange 52 and the guide ring 88. The bearing ring I90 engages the surface I82 and is supported from the cover 24 by such devices as screws I 82. Spacers I94 and I86 disposed on either side of the bearing ring I96 act as thrust members preventing axial movement of the adapter sleeve with respect to the bearing rings I84 and I90 and tend to reduce scoring of the bearings even under continued usage.

Referring to the view of Fig. 4, it will be noted that the elements of structure may be divided into three general groups, which for the purpose of description have been indicated by brackets labeled as S, the shaft group, A the adapter group, and R the rotative group. The shaft group S are all concentric about the point 0, i

the axis of shaft rotation, while the groups A and R are supposedly concentric with the axis of rotation but may in fact present the bearing surfaces I88 as centered around the point 0' to one side of or not coincident with the axis of rotation. When that is the case and the propeller is rotating, then the point 0 will describe a circle or curved pathabout the axis of rotation, and the elementsof the A group will wabble somewhat as designated by the dotted and dashed lines. That is possible in the present instance because all of theelements of'that group while relatively fixed against rotation with the propeller may at the same time oscillate to follow the eccentricity. The lug and notch engagement between the plate H6 and ring I88 restrain the adapter assembly from rotation, yet permit the desired oscillation so that the relative rotation of the bearing rings is truly concentric with the center of the adaptersleeve 38.

In aircraft constructions of the type disclosed. one manufacturer may provide the power plant ending in the propeller shaft I2 and its support, while another manufacturer may provide the propeller mechanism to be mounted thereon. Both manufacturers must work to close tolerances for the assemblies they provide, but by reason of separationbf manufacturing plants there is introduced considerable likelihood that. the reference pointiof the two. sets of tolerances-may-not coincide. Inany event, when the propeller mechanism is mounted in position on .-;-the propeller shaft, the exact .location may .be outside of the limits specified,or theadapter bearing-s maynot be concentric-with the shaft axis, or the plane of the .bearings may-not be square with the shaft. On the other hand, an aircraft while maneuvering', is subjected to a-complexity of forces that are," concentrated at the juncture of propeller anddriving shaft; in effectv asubstantial mass in the neighborhood of hundreds of. pounds.

carried at the end of astub-shaft,.and incident to dive, climb, and turn of the aircraft may cause same to weave or whip and chuck of the propeller shaft and mechanism mounted thereon. Any or all of that gives rise to shift, though perhaps small, of the propeller and its, parts with respect to the propeller-shaft support l0. By mounting the adapter assembly in themanner stated, it is permitted to follow all of the weave and chuck movement transmitted to the bearing members 42 and 44, without altering its designed relation with the reservoir housing 'or the control mechanism connected therewith. At the same time, the adapter assembly is retained against rotation with respect to the shaft support l0, so that it may eificiently perform its functions in transmitting control movement applied to the arm I06 to the pitch control mechanism regardless of whether the propeller mechanism is at rest or rotating,

The full effect of the applied control movement applied to the' arm I06 is maintained because the adapter sleeve is maintained concentric afforded by the reservoir housing. The bearing 44 may be in lapped relation between the flange 52 of the adapter sleeve, and the abutting end of the ring 38, all of which is shown in Fig. 3. In

Fig. 5, a like result is accomplished by the might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A propeller control mechanism of the character described, comprising in combination, a propeller hub rotatable with respect to a fixed supwith, and non-shiftable axially of the bearings class-described, the combination comprising, a casing from which projects and within which a propeller-shaft .is rotatably supported, a propeller hub rotatablewith the shaft, a housing concentrically arranged and rotatable with the hub-with respect .to the casing, a cylindrical member surrounding the hub and projecting into the housing, means providing pairs of axially spaced bearing surfaces between the housing and th'eucylindrical member for'closing off-a reser voir within the rotatable housing, one of said pairs wof bearing surfaces comprising pairsof .a xially' spaced plane surface bearings restraining relative: axial movementof the cylindrical member and housing, means including a part of the casing preventing relative'rotation of the cylindrical member yet permitting relative oscillatable'movement 0f the cylindrical member with respect to the casing, said shaft being capable of rotation on an axis non-coincident with the axis of said bearing surfaces.

3. Aselfecontainedpropeller control mechanism comprising, a gearcasing, a. hub supporting propeller blades, aishaft extending from and rotating with respect to said casing for mounting and driving said hub, an annular housing extending around the shaft and rotatable with the hub, a sleeve member disposed about the shaft and extending into the housingsaid housing engaging the sleeve at one end in a journal bearing for support. of the sleeve, and engaging at the other end of the sleeve in opposed plane the hub, an outer annular housing engaging'said annular member and extending over said pump and governor mechanism, said annular member and annular housing both having, their inner peripheries normally open and unobstructed and being receivable over the propeller shaft, an adapter assembly for'closing the inner periphery of the annular member and housing to form port, a housing rotatable with said hub, a relatively stationary member projecting into said housing, means for establishing a fluid seal between the housing and said stationary member providing a reservoir within said housing for receiving a quantity of fluid pressure medium, said seal means comprising a journal bearing for supporting the stationary member, and a plane surface bearing preventing relative axial movement between the stationary member and housing, means restraining thestationary member against rotation with respect to a fixed support but permitting its geometric center to describe said circular .path about the axis of hub rotation, whereby the fluid seal between the housing and stationary member is maintained during rotation of the hub though the axes of rotation for the hub and housing are noncoincident.

2. In a propeller control mechanism of the a reservoir enclosing the pump and the governor valve mechanism, said adapter assembly including a sleeve having bearing engagement with the inner peripheries of the annular member and housing, means on the sleev within the reservoir for operating the pump upon rotation of the hub, means provided by the adapter assembly" extending from anengine housing, the combination comprising, a reservoir mounted for rotation with the propeller, an'adapter assembly comprising a tubular extension projecting into the reservoir, bearing means between the tubular extension and reservoir, means permitting of the adapter assembly axially of and normal to the engine housing, means comprising a part of said bearing means for preventing axial movement between the tubular extension and reservoir, and means comprising a part on the engine housing for preventing rotation of the adapter assembly with respect thereto. 3'

6; In self contained propeller control mechanism for a hydraulically adjustable propeller, the combination comprising, a hub supporting propeller blades, and mounted to be driven by a' shaft extending from and rotating with respect to an engine casing, an annular housing extending around the shaft and rotatable with the hub, a sleeve member disposed about the shaft and extending into the housing, said housing and sleeve engaging in a journal bearing and a planar bearing and providing a reservoir for receivin a quantity of pressure actuatingfiuid, and means for preventing rotation of the sleeve with the shaft but permitting fore and aft movement of the sleeve with respect to the engine casing, said planar bearing preventing fore and aft movement of the sleeve relative to the annular housing.

- 7. In a propeller control mechanism'of the class described, the combination comprising, a casing from which projects and withinwhicha propeller shaft is rotatably supported, a propeller hub rotatable with the shaft, a housing-rotatable by the hub relative'to thecasing, a cylindrical member surrounding theshaft, a journal bearing means between the housing and cylindrical member by which the cylindrical member is supported from the housing, plane surface bearing means'between the housing and cylindrical member bywhich axial movement, between the housing and cylindrical member is prevented, and means preventing the cylindrical member from rotating relative to the casing, yet permitting floating of the cylindrical member relative to the propeller shaft during propeller rotation. a

CHARLES S. J. MACNEIL. JOHN F. HAINES. THOMAS B. MARTIN. KENNETH L. BERNINGER.

. CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,579,537; July 1915.

CHARLES s. J. MacNE-IL, ET AL 6 hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, sec- 0nd column, line n7, for "through" read though-; page 5, first column, line 68, claim 1, for the article "a" read --said-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the sam conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of October, A. D. 19145.

It is e may Leslie Frazer (Seal) First Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

